After Irma: Polk County parks, campgrounds reopen on Friday

LAKELAND - Polk County parks and campgrounds are reopening to the public on Friday, Sept. 22, but some parks will have limited access. Polk County parks were closed on Sept. 8 as Hurricane Irma took aim at Florida. Campgrounds were closed the next day.

On Monday, crews were doing safety inspections and debris cleanup at all county parks. Bone Valley ATV Park will open with limited access to trails. Loyce E. Harpe Park will have limited access to the public. It will be used as a hurricane debris site. The annual Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings is cancelled for this year.

Saddle Creek Gun Range is closed through the weekend and will resume normal operating hours on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Simmers Young Park will not reopen until Monday, Sept. 25 and with limited access. It will be used as a hurricane debris site.

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Simmers Young Dog Park will remain closed until further notice. The park entrance off of K-Ville Road will be closed. The public can enter the park through American Spirit Boulevard entrance off of Spirit Lake Road.
If not listed above, other parks in the county will be open.

Arbuckle Campground is closed until further notice. Other campgrounds are open: Rosalie Campground, Coleman Landing Campground, Port Hatchineha Campground and Saddle Creek Campground.

Patch file photo